Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Microsoft Releases Windows 8 Consumer Preview | Technology News

Today, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft announced the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

The release marks a new step in the evolution of Windows 8, but is
still only a preview version of the platform, destined mainly for
testing purposes.

The new platform flavor brings along a
variety of changes when compared to the Windows 8 Developer Preview that
became available for download in September last year.

“With
Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their
PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the
device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one,” said
Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at
Microsoft.

He also mentions that the new Windows 8 Consumer Preview arrives with a no-compromises approach to using the PC.

Microsoft is making the Windows 8 Consumer Preview available for
download all around the world in English, French, German, Japanese and
simplified Chinese languages.

Those users who have downloaded
and installed the Developer Preview of the platform on their computers
will benefit from a long range of changes in the new release.

In addition to various improvements throughout the platform, there will
also be access to the Windows Store, as well as seamless integration
with content that users access through their devices, including
smartphones powered by the Windows Phone platform.

Moreover,
Microsoft packed the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 with Internet
Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5, which has been redesigned to deliver a
new experience, specifically crafted for the Windows 8 platform.

At the MWC show in Barcelona, Microsoft will demo the new platform on
various devices that are based on x86 and ARM chipsets. Developers will
have access to hardware for trial and testing purposes.

Key updates in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview include:

- Broad range of product changes and improvements.
Since the Developer Preview in September, designed to preview the
programming platform, Windows 8 has progressed across every dimension.
From completing the user experience for touch, keyboard and mouse to
refining the development platform, the Consumer Preview improves
performance, quality and reliability across all subsystems. With the
added features, it represents a more complete view of the capabilities
of Windows 8.

- Windows Store with new apps.
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview marks the beta opening of the Windows
Store, which is filled with a variety of new Metro style apps from both
third-party developers and Microsoft. During the Consumer Preview, these
apps are available to try and experience at no cost to users. The
Windows Store will offer personalized recommendations, and Windows 8
gives users the ability to take their apps and settings with them across
multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while
offering developers the greatest opportunity of any platform.

- Connecting to the cloud across Windows-based PCs and Windows Phone.
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers seamless integration with the
content people care about across their devices. An optional additional
sign-on with a Microsoft account provides access to a host of features,
including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage,
communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad
range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across your
Windows-based PCs and your Windows Phones. - Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5.
The best way to experience the Web on Windows is with Internet Explorer
10. The browser has been re-imagined to create a new experience
designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an edge-to-edge
user interface that is all about less browser and more Web. Fast and
fluid, Internet Explorer is hardware-accelerated to enable Web
performance.Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview